Walid El-Karti’s goal twenty minutes from time landed Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca the 2017 Champions League title at the expense of Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
Both teams, facing for the fourth time this year, played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg tie in Egypt a week ago and went into Saturday’s decisive final without key players injured in the first leg match.
Wydad were without exciting winger Mohamed Ounnajem while Ahly were forced to make do with the absence of Ali Maaloul.
The two North African sides played out a highly tactical final sometimes bereft of entertainment but El-Karti settled the tie with his header after Achraf Bencharki’s cross took a deflection onto his path.
Nigerian star Junior Ajayi played the full ninety minutes for Ahly in the unfortunate loss while his compatriot Chisom Chikatara who is on the books of the Moroccan side was not listed by Wydad, for the sixth consecutive time in the competition.
Saturday’s victory marks the second time Wydad Casablanca will win the Champions League, the first being twenty five years ago.
Images: Twitter
